Keeping My Houston City Council First Meeting of the Year Tradition Going

One of the New Year's traditions I've been observing that's a fairly new one for me is to attend the first Houston City Council meeting of the year.

It started out of necessity in 2014 when in the wake of Mayor Annise Parker's election to her final term in November 2013, the chatter about a Houston non-discrimination ordinance started ramping up.  Dee Dee Watters and I were concerned that transgender Houstonians would be left out of it because we had no elected trans representation on council, and we showed up at the first Council meeting of 2014 with several Houston Black trans peeps in tow.

At that January 2014 public comment meeting we insisted that any Houston non-discrimination ordinance being considered for adoption cover gender identity in order to protect the trans community. 

We also served notice at that January 2014 meeting that any attempt to pass a HERO without trans protections would leave the Houston trans community with no choice but to work to kill it. 

That's how it started, and ever since then either both of us or one of us will make certain that we are in the council chambers for that first council meeting of the year. 

Today it was my smiling face bringing Happy New Year greetings from the trans community, thanking Mayor Turner, HPD Chief Art Acevedo and his command staff for attending the vigil we held at City Hall for Brandi Seals, our Houston trans sister who was murdered last month. 

I also called for a renewed push to pass HERO 2.0 since in the wake of the November 2015 repeal of HERO, discrimination incidents, especially aimed at the Houston TBLGQ community have been rising.

And as soon as the video pops up, I'll post it.

We'll see what happens as the rest of 2018 transpires, but I definitely will be keeping an eye on Houston City Hall and won't rest until it does.

And yes, I'll be at the first meeting in January 2019.   That's an election year in H-town.

Fran Watson Elected Houston LGBT Caucus President At Historic Meeting

I was pleased to be at the Montrose Center last night to witness some Houston LGBT history Wednesday night.

The first LGBT Political Caucus meeting of the new year kicked off at 7 PM to a capacity crowd in Room 106 of the Montrose Center, and in addition to hearing the speeches of candidates wishing to walk away with the coveted endorsement of the Caucus for their 2016 primary campaigns, the caucus was also having their own elections to choose a new president and several new board members.

The people in the house seeking the Caucus endorsement for their various races included former Harris County sheriff Adrian Garcia, who is now running for the US congress, Kim Ogg, who narrowly lost her 2014 race for Harris County district attorney, current Precinct 1 constable Alan Rosen who is running for reelection, and numerous judicial candidates like Ramona Franklin.

CM Mike Laster, Harris county Democratic Party chair Lane Lewis and HISD trustee Anna Eastman were also in the house to thank the Caucus for their endorsements and their support.  

There was also a moment of silence for the late county commissioner El Franco Lee and

But what the overflow crowd was there to see in addition to who would get on the Caucus board was whether current board member Fran Watson would become the first African-American female elected to head the caucus.

I said the first African-American female caucus president because I was advised by Houston LGBT historian JD Doyle that an African American man has served, albeit briefly as the Caucus president

The first African-American MAN to serve as Caucus President was Jim Cotton, from late 1977 until April 1978...he was the 3rd Prez....this is per Scott Tillinghast, who is one of the few who was around and involved to remember...wish I could find a photo of Cotton, but apparently he did not make much of an impact.  

When the speeches were over, it was time to get to our historic business.  Once the call for candidates was opened, former CM and Caucus president Sue Lovell gave a moving and heartfelt nomination for Fran which was enthusiastically seconded by much of the crowd.  

A few minutes later, history was made and Fran Watson officially became the new and first ever African-American female president of the Houston GLBT Caucus.  And when the mayor is tweeting congratulations on your election, you know this is a BFD.  It's about time the organizations that lead our community also reflect its diversity.  When it comes to one like the influential Houston GLBT Caucus in which its endorsement can boost the credibility of a liberal progressive candidate despite its non-partisan status, it's past time it happened.  

Congratulations indeed Fran!  I have no doubts that you will successfully handle the Caucus business and whatever challenge comes your way as the Caucus president.

First Post-HERO Suspension Council Meeting Today

Should be a hot time in the Houston City Council chambers later this afternoon, and I'm not talking about the weather that will bring us our first 100 degree day of the summer.

The Houston City Council has a 2 PM session on Tuesdays for public comment on whatever issue you wish to bring to their attention.   And with the suspension of the HERO happening no thanks to the Texas (Republican) Supreme Court, this first public comment session since the unjust ruling will probably be a lot more contentious than usual.

People in LGBT Houston are highly pissed off about what happened to a human rights ordinance we fought tooth and nail last year to get passed, have been mobilizing for action in defense of it, and will be there to let their voices be heard.  

And I don't doubt the out of town faux faith based opposition and their kneegrow useful fools will also be in attendance urging City Council to kill HERO.

And unfortunately due to some other pressing matters, i won't be at City Council for the fun, but will be there in spirit and catching the replay of the session on cable TV later.

To all the peeps signed up to speak in defense of our human rights law, give the haters hell for me and I'll see y'all at the next Tuesday session.

HPD -LGBT Community Dialogue Tomorrow

For those of you who can make it to the Montrose Center tomorrow morning from 10-AM-1 PM CDT, there will be a town hall meeting featuring  HPD Chief Charles McClelland, HPD's command staff,  HPD LGBT Liaison EJ Joseph, HPD personnel and other community leaders to discuss the spike in anti-LGBT crimes that I believe is fueled by the hate rhetoric spouted by our opponents during the fight to pass the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance..

We will be gathering in Room 106/107 at the Montrose Center to hopefully  come up with solutions to this problem that has already taken one life and left two other people seriously injured.

One suggesting is to extend the hours that the Montrose storefront police station is open.  I suggested in a previous post to bring back the Q Patrol citizens patrols that we instituted for several years in the wake of the Paul Broussard murder back in 1991

Address of the Montrose Center for those who wish to attend is 401 Branard St.

TPOCC Board Business Is Handled

As some of you are aware of, I bounced up here to Washington DC as part of my board duties to spend yesterday handling TPOCC business.

Kind of speaks to mine and the board's determination to ensure that the Trans Persons Of Color Coalition stays the one national organization dedicated to the concerns of ethnic trans persons when several of the board members braved Winter Storm Thor to travel to a DC getting whacked by several inches of snow so we could be there on time for our all day facilitated meeting that occurred yesterday.

TPOCC will celebrate its fifth anniversary this year and our founding executive director Kylar Broadus has big plans for the organization that we will roll out over the next few months.

One of those I can talk about is giving our TPOCC constituents the chance to support us fiscally, since this work takes money.   Details on how you'll be able to do that and invest in our organization will come soon.

TPOCC board members like Cecilia Chung, Mattee Jim, Louis Mitchell Andrea Jenkins and myself along with Kylar will be out, about and visible at major community events like the Trans 100 event in Chicago , the LGBT Media Journalists Convening, the Black Trans Advocacy Conference in Dallas, the Philadelphia Trans Health Conference and other regional events in our various locales around the country.

TPOCC is also ramping up its online presence on Facebook and Twitter.

There's a lot of things we discussed yesterday that a board confidentiality agreement will not allow me to talk about in this post, but you can be assured that TPOCC will be working to become that visible, muscular national trans advocacy organization you want, deserve, and look toward to role model  principled leadership.

And yesterday we took some major steps toward making that happen.

CC15-Day 1

Moni is in the Rocky Mountain CC15 house,

Even though I've picked up my badge and conference booklet so I can plan out what exciting panels and seminars I would like to see while I'm here in the 303, I'm going to be spending the first day of CC15 in an all day facilitated TPOCC meeting in which I'm sworn to confidentiality on.

But I'm definitely looking forward to seeing my TPOCC family and 'errbody' else who is here for Creating Change when I'm not handling my CC15 business.. 

Don't be shy, say hello.   I don't bite.  You'll get a hug if you dare to do so.

While peeps are still winging their way from across the nation , the Racial Justice Institute is kicking off with the Opening Plenary starting at 9:00 AM MST, and then breakout sessions delving into various topics

One I'm hoping  my meeting is done with so I can attend is 'Race and The Trans Experience' starting at 2:00 PM.

Should be an interesting and informative day for everyone here.

HERO Civil Rights Strategy Meeting Thursday

On Thursday July 24 there will be a HERO Civil Rights Strategy Meeting held at Resurrection MCC Church starting at 7 PM.

One of the things i and many other people in Houston trans and SGL world have been pissed off about are not only the cadre of sellout ministers bearing false witness against the trans community, but the erasure of Black LGBT people from the HERO conversation as if we don't exist. 


Some of the topics that will be discussed is the history behind the HERO, the 15 classes the nearly two month old ordinance covers, what we need to do to counter the lies of Max Miller and his sellout ministers, blowing up the anti-transgender lies,  and coalition building and coming to the table in a community with a leadership diversity issue.

We'll also be discussing the upcoming August 4 Forward Times HERO forum.

This is just the first of many strategy meetings the Houston SGL and trans community will schedule, and it would be nice if people do show up for it. 

HERO: Next Steps Meeting Tonight

As I've been reminding everyone, passing the #HERO was the easiest part of the process.   Now we have to defend it from our misguided faith-based haters and their 'fear and smear' tactics. 

There will be a #HERO: Next Steps meeting taking place later today from 6-7 PM at Resurrection MCC Church facilitated by Januari Leo and Brad Pritchett.

Januari and Brad will be your hosts for this exciting opportunity for community building and conversation around what's currently happening with our soon to be three week old non-discrimination ordinance.

At the #HERO: Next Steps meeting we'll discuss: (1) tools to address misinformation online and in person (2) details on a high-impact way to share your story (3) updates on the petition gathering and referendum process.

And if you attend, you also get to ask questions and make suggestions and comments concerning these issues.

Resurrection MCC is located at 2025 W. 11th Street west of TC Jester Boulevard.  The meeting will be in The Gathering Place building on the Resurrection MCC campus, and it has ample parking.   For you METRO riders it is on the 40 Pecore line

I will have my face in the place, and hope to see you there.

Another Month, Another Contentious HISD Board Meeting

Stay tuned because there will be fireworks at this Thursday's HISD 4 PM CDT board meeting.
--TransGriot   March 13, 2014.

Can I call it or what? 

I had the opportunity to spend what was an interesting afternoon and early evening watching and Tweeting remarks during the March HISD Board meeting in which 120 people signed up to speak at a meeting that had the closure of Jones High School and Dodson Elementary on the menu.  

As I mentioned in earlier posts, the Houston African-American community is seething with anger over the fact that 19 of the schools that have been closed so far are disproportionately in African-American neighborhoods, and are creating what we call 'school deserts' in our neighborhoods.   

That anger boiled over in the meeting last night attended by a standing room only crowd in the board room at HISD's Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center on the northwest side of town. 

Because of the large number of speakers, we were limited to one minute (which pissed me off) because you can't even get a coherent thought out in one minute.  The dismissive,disinterested attitude of the white male HISD board members and Superintendent Grier as people came to the podium to express themselves was interpreted as disrespect, combined with the pissivity over the proposed closes of two more of our schools.  

That combined with many people feeling before even walking into that board meeting the HISD board and the district weren't and haven't been listening to our community about our displeasure over the disproportionate number of public schools being closed  in our neighborhoods led to emotions boiling over.

When one of the speakers made the comment of coming after Terry Grier with an accounting audit, all the HISD po-po's heard was 'threat' and scrambled into action to form a phalanx in front of the board while the person was hustled off to another corner of the room away from the speakers podium.  That triggered a five minute recess and 'Fire Terry Grier' chants as people wroked to defuse tensions in the room..

After the pissivity in the room was ratcheted down a few levels with the help of Trustees Wanda Adams, Rhonda Skillern-Jones and Texas state rep Borris Miles,  the vote on Jones fate happened.   The proposal was amended to keep Jones open and repurpose it without athletics, which didn't sit well with me and many of the people in the room.   We basically want the same thing the white HISD constituents enjoy at Bellaire, Lamar, Westside, and other comprehensive HISD neighborhood high schools.  

That passed on a 6-3 vote.  Jones lived, but its attendance zone was split between Worthing and Sterling High Schools and what the 'repurposed' school is going to look like is still to be determined. 

But it definitely wasn't the comprehensive high school we wanted 

Dodson Elementary unfortunately we couldn't save.  Because as I mentioned in yesterday's post Dodson's location made it a juicy target for closure despite hosting an exemplary rated Montessori program. 

It sits in the shadow of downtown in the EaDo neighborhood less than two blocks from the soon to be opened Purple Line light rail line and right next to a hike and bike trail.   It was battling the forces of gentrification and whatever backroom deals had been cut and our kids are going to be the losers in this.   .  

The vote to close it was a 5-4 one, and that stoked fresh waves of anger after the stunned crowd realized what happened.
  
So the struggle continues.  Another Black school in Houston has been slated for closure this May, Jones has been put on the slow track in many of our minds to eventual death and the simmering African-American community anger at superintendent Dr. Terry Grier and the HISD board has just had gasoline poured on it.


As to whether the trust level between the Houston African-American community and the HISD board can be rebuilt?   What that is going to take is Terry Grier's firing or departure as a starting point and a moratorium on school closures in our neighborhoods.    

Moni's Headed To The HISD School Board Meeting

I'm preparing to head over to Houston northwest side and the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center for today's 4 PM CDT HISD school board meeting that will determine the fate of my high school alma mater and Dodson Elementary School. 

And if you're wondering if I'm feeling a sense of deja vu about this, yes, I am. 

The HISD board of trustees is going to vote on that issue today, and I'm one of the speakers signed up in opposition to it.  

Superintendent Grier is proposing (again) to close the doors of Jesse H Jones at the end of this school year and send the students currently enrolled there to Sterling and Worthing high schools.  

I and a coalition of people are fighting to keep that from happening, and pointing out that HISD caused many of the problems the school is experiencing.

A press conference was held yesterday in front of Jones in which we pointed out once again the HISD has no legitimate reason to close Jones or Dodson Elementary and are tired of the school closure ax falling in predominately African-American neighborhoods.   . 

We'll see what happens at the school board meeting.   My HISD trustee Paula Harris said February 11 at the community meeting held at Jones there weren't five votes on the board (the majority) to close those schools.  But until the HISD board actually casts that binding vote in public at today's meeting, anything can happen.  


Will update y'all as to what is happening and how it turned out. 

NY Islan Nettles Case Meeting

TransGriot Note:  From the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP)

On December 20 trans community leaders Laverne Cox and Brooke Cerda Guzman, along with representatives from the Audre Lorde Project’s Trans Justice and the New York City Anti-Violence Project (AVP) met with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office regarding the Islan Nettles investigation after misdemeanor charges were dropped against Paris Wilson on November 19, 2013. 

Islan Nettles was attacked on August 17 in Harlem by an individual or group of individuals shouting anti-transgender slurs.  Ms. Nettles was taken to Harlem Hospital for her injuries and on Thursday August 22, was taken off of life support and died.

At the meeting, community leaders spoke about their concerns about the real danger that transgender women of color face in New York City and the need for the District Attorney’s Office to prioritize violence against transgender women of color.  The District Attorney’s Office assured community leaders that the Islan Nettles case remains a top priority and that they were doing everything in their power to move the investigation forward.  The group also spoke about ways in which the District Attorney’s Office and transgender women of color could work together to create safety and highlight the disproportionate impact of violence in transgender and gender non-conforming communities.

The Anti Violence Project (AVP) will continue to work with transgender community leaders and the District Attorney’s Office on the Islan Nettles case and on issues of safety for all transgender women of color in New York City.

AVP stands with transgender women of color, our allies, community members and community leaders in saying we will not be silent about the violence faced by transgender women and transgender women of color in our city.  In September 2013, at AVP’s Courage Awards, Laverne Cox called the violence against transgender women of color “a state of emergency,” and it is exactly that, both here in New York City and across the nation.  The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) most recent report, Hate Violence Against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and HIV-Affected Communities in the United States in 2012, documented 25 anti-LGBTQ murders.  73.1% of all anti-LGBTQ homicide victims in 2012 were people of color and 53.8% were transgender women.

So far this year we know of 14 transgender women nationally who have been victims of homicide.  In many of these cases, no motive is known, and we are concerned about the pace of investigations, the serial misgendering of the victims by police and media, and by a lack of public awareness about these tragic deaths.

 REPORTING VIOLENCE HELPS TO END VIOLENCE
AVP encourages you to report violence you experience or witness to our free and confidential 24-hour bilingual (English/Spanish) hotline at 212-714-1141 where you can speak with a trained counselor and seek support, or you can report violence anonymously online at http://avp.org/get-help/report-violence.

Cleveland TBLG Community Rally On Sunday

Been advised by Zoe Lapin that a community rally to discuss the trans murders of Brittany Kidd-Stergis and Betty Skinner, the latest outbreak of racist Cleveland media transphobia and other issues of importance in the local trans community will take place at Trinity Cathedral on Sunday,  December 15. 

Trinity Cathedral is located at 2230 Euclid Avenue in Cleveland and the event will start at 1:00 PM EST.  

What I am hoping for is that this event will be as diverse as the city of Cleveland is, and will feature someone from the local African American trans community to represent the people who are taking the brunt of the anti-trans hate crimes.  

I hope this does not turn into another event where white faces are the predominant ones we see all over the news, the media and the Net speaking, and irritatingly once again the Black trans community people who are the ones doing the dying, their representatives, leaders and local community leadership voices are shut out, ignored and the bodies of our dead are used once again to push somebody else's rainbow agenda.

In the runup to organizing this event, I hope and pray the organizers keep the I-words inclusion and intersectionality in their vocabularies and don't ignore the Black trans community as they put together this community rally.  

The Cleveland trans community has people besides white trans men who can eloquently speak for it.. Call them and invite them to the podium to speak for their fallen transsister who can no longer do so and their community. 


That being said, hoping for a large, diverse turnout and speakers at that rally reflecting the diversity of the Cleveland TBLG community.  I also hope for a frank discussion that takes place in that space which begins to address the frustration that I hear privately from many Black transpeople in the area about the state of the LGBT community in Cleveland, Ohio.   Their anger is mounting about their marginalization in it combined with the anti-trans violence being aimed at them and needs to be heard and dealt with. 

Garland TBLG Residents Address City Council

Garland DART board member Michael Cheney taking that futile walk that denied a quorum for passage of domestic partner benefits during the September 24 DART board meeting may have been the spark that finally motivated the TBLG peeps in Garland to push for their own non-discrimination ordinance.

Garland BTLG community residents accompanied by Rafael McDonnell and Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance President Patti Fink showed up at a recent meeting of their city council accroding to the Dallas Voice and expressed themselves not only about Cheney's walkout at the DADT meeting but the lack of a non-discrimination ordinance in Garland.

Lerone Landis told the council at the October 2 meeting he is a daily DART rider who lives in the city with his husband and their 4 year old daughter. He stated he was disappointed to learn that it was Garland’s representative who prevented the healthcare equalization plan from passing and urged the Garland City Council to pass a nondiscrimination policy for its own employees and city residents to show they are serious and committed to diversity in the city. 

Carmarion Anderson said she was embarrassed to be a Garland resident after Cheney’s stunt at the DART meeting.  “We live here and pay our taxes here,” she said and expressed her expectations to the council that she and DART's LGBT employees receive equal treatment. 

Fink called Cheney’s action at the DART meeting “shameful.” and encouraged the council to pass an ordinance that would cover city employees.

“Be on the cutting edge and bring new business to the city,” Fink said.

Garland Mayor Douglas Athas and two councilmen spoke to the group in the council chambers when the council meeting concluded  and said the city would consider the idea of a nondiscrimination ordinance.

“We have a lot of lesbian and gay employees,” Mayor Athos said. “We would never allow that sort of discrimination.”  He said he had never heard a request from any of the city’s lesbian and gay community for a nondiscrimination ordinance. But he called the ordinance “nothing to rush into because no one’s come forward” with a complaint.

Mayor Athas, just because nobody's filed a complaint concerning anti-LGBT discrimination doesn't mean you can make the conclusion jump the discrimination isn't happening in a city the size of Garland.  And as far as your comment that no one from the Garland TBLG community has requested a nondiscrimination ordinance, I guess you weren't paying attention during that meeting when Carmarion Anderson and Lerone Landis were taking three minutes each of their valuable time to address the council.


Patti Fink told the mayor that most Fortune 500 companies have a nondiscrimination policy and look to relocate in cities that have similar policies. She said that the city may not have received any complaints, but many people looking for work may have skipped applying in suburban Garland because they have no protections.

Could Garland be the next community in the DFW Metroplex to protect its TBLG residents from discrimination?   Stay tuned to this TransGriot channel to find out.

First Ever UN Ministerial Meeting On LGBT Rights

You've heard me frequently write and say that trans rights are an international human rights issue.  On September 26 a groundbreaking meeting took place at the United Nations in New York that underscores that comment.

Leaders from the UN's core group of countries working to end violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people gathered for the first ever UN ministerial meeting on LGBT rights.


The meeting's purpose was to discuss advancements for protecting the human rights of LGBT persons and to secure commitments from Member States toward making the protection of TBLG citizens in those member state and elsewhere in the world a reality.

Free & Equal -- the unprecedented UN public information campaign for LGBT equality -- captures strong statements by several attendees, who included the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the Argentine, Brazilian, Croatian, Dutch and Norwegian foreign ministers, the French Minister of Development Cooperation, senior officials from the European Union, Japan and New Zealand, and the directors of Human Rights Watch and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission.




Those present issued an historic Ministerial Declaration on Ending Violence and Discrimination against Individuals Based on their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity that was endorsed by Secretary of State Kerry, the foreign ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, El Salvador, France, Israel, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union.

In case you TransGriot readers are wondering what the declaration says, you knew I'd find it for you.:

Ministerial Declaration on Ending Violence and Discrimination against Individuals Based on their Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity



United Nations, New York, 26 September 2013

1. We, ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, El Salvador, France, Israel, Japan, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and United States, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy – members of the LGBT Core Group at the United Nations – hereby declare our strong and determined commitment to eliminating violence and discrimination against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.

2. In so doing, we reaffirm our conviction that human rights are the birthright of every human being. Those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) must enjoy the same human rights as everyone else.

3. We welcome the many positive steps taken in recent decades to protect LGBT individuals from human rights violations and abuses. Since 1990, some 40 countries have abolished discriminatory criminal sanctions used to punish individuals for consensual, adult same-sex conduct. In many countries, hate crime laws and other measures have been introduced to combat homophobic violence, and anti-discrimination laws have been strengthened to provide effective legal protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace and other spheres, both public and private.

4. We also recognize that countering discrimination involves challenging popular prejudices, and we welcome efforts by Governments, national human rights institutions and civil society to counter homophobic and transphobic attitudes in society at large, including through concerted public education campaigns.

5. We assert our support for, and pay tribute to, LGBT human rights defenders and others advocating for the human rights of LGBT persons. Their work, often carried out at considerable personal risk, plays a critical role in documenting human rights violations, providing support to victims, and sensitizing Governments and public opinion.

6. We commend the adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council of resolution 17/19 on human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity, and we welcome the efforts of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights to raise global awareness of human rights challenges facing LGBT individuals, and to mobilize support for measures to counter violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

7. Nevertheless, we remain gravely concerned that LGBT persons in all regions of the world continue to be victims of serious and widespread human rights violations and abuses.

8. A landmark 2011 study by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, which drew on almost two decades worth of work by United Nations human rights mechanisms, found a deeply disturbing pattern of violence and discriminatory laws and practices affecting individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity.

9. It is a tragedy that, in this second decade of the 21^st century, consensual, adult, same-sex relations remain criminalized in far too many countries – exposing millions of people to the risk of arrest and imprisonment and, in some countries, the death penalty. These laws are inconsistent with States’ human rights obligations and commitments, including with respect to privacy and freedom from discrimination. In addition, they may lead to violations of the prohibitions against arbitrary arrest or detention and torture, and in some cases the right to life.

10. In all parts of the world – including in our own – LGBT individuals are subjected to intimidation, physical assault, and sexual violence, and even murder. Discriminatory treatment is also widely reported, inhibiting the enjoyment of a range of human rights – including the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, and work, education and enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health.

11. We are fully committed to tackling these violations and abuses – both at the domestic level, including through continued attention to the impact of current policies, and at the global level, including through concerted action at the United Nations.

12. We recognize the importance of continued dialogue between and within countries concerning how best to protect the human rights of LGBT persons, taking into account regional initiatives. In this context, we welcome the outcome of a series of recent regional consultations on the topic of human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity that took place in March and April 2013, and encourage the holding of further such meetings at regional and national levels.

13. Key to protecting the human rights of LGBT individuals is the full and effective implementation of applicable international human rights law. Existing international human rights treaties provide legally binding guarantees of human rights for all – LGBT people included. But for these guarantees to have meaning they must be respected by Governments, with whom legal responsibility for the protection of human rights lies.

14. Cognizant of the urgent need to take action, we therefore call on all United Nations Member States to repeal discriminatory laws, improve responses to hate-motivated violence, and ensure adequate and appropriate legal protection from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

15. We strongly encourage the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to continue its efforts to increase understanding of the human rights challenges facing LGBT people, advocate for legal and policy measures to meet these challenges, and assist the United Nations human rights mechanisms in this regard.

16. We agree with the United Nations Secretary-General’s assessment that combating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity constitutes “one of the great, neglected human rights challenges of our time”. We hereby commit ourselves to working together with other States and civil society to make the world safer, freer and fairer for LGBT people everywhere.

Upcoming Race Relations In The GLBTIQ-SGL Community Discussion

Was advised about an interesting upcoming event that will take place on Sunday, September 29 at the Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church here in H-town.

It's a discussion on 'Race Relations in the Houston GLBTIQ-SGL Community' that is sponsored by Brother 2 Brother and will be facilitated by Dexter Williams.

We are calling ALL persons of the GLBTQ-SGL community! Let’s come together to discuss race. Let’s embrace our cultural differences and in the process gain a better understanding how we can move forward together as one community. We want to make sure everyone has a voice.

We in the Houston rainbow community are going to need to have a frank discussion about and deal with the issue of race in this community.  We need to ensure we're on the same page in preparation for the ugly and bruising knock down drag out fight we will have in the near future over adding gender identity and sexual orientation to our non-discrimination ordinance. 

When that ordinance passes, there will be an effort by the Forces of Intolerance to force a ballot referendum in an attempt to repeal it.  We will need to be working together in order to fight it and win..Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church is located at 2025 West 11th Street in Houston and the event is scheduled to run from 3-6 PM CDT.

I'm making plans to be there and check it out. 
 

White House TDOR Trans Meeting

If some of you thought that Vice President Joe Biden was selling woof tickets during the campaign about considering trans issues the civil rights issue of our time, and mine and the other trans folks assertion that President Obama's administration has been the best ever on trans rights issues, we have more evidence of how serious they are.

A meeting was held yesterday in which TPOCC Executive Director Kylar Broadus, Marisa Richmond, and DC Human Rights Commissioner Earline Budd were just some of the 20 plus people in attendance meeting with White House staffers to mark the Transgender Day of Remembrance and discuss ways in which we can work together to ensure dignity, equality, and justice for all people.

They also discussed a range of issues and concerns of importance to transgender people, building upon the progress for our community begun during his first term what can be done to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all transgender people in the States and around the world.

Glad to hear it happened, and hope we see even more meetings and initiatives like this between the Obama Administration and transpeople around the country in the years ahead.

METRO Monthly Board Meeting To Finalize Rail Station Names

I've been keeping track of the developments on the METRORail light rail lines that are currently either under construction or are being studied for development like the University (Blue) and Uptown (Gold) Lines.

I noted that rail is being laid on the Southeast Line that will terminate a few blocks from my undisclosed location in beautiful southeast Houston with that Purple Line eventually slated in the future to be extended to and terminate at Hobby Airport. 

I also posted links to a survey in which people could vote on or suggest names for the stations on the three new light rail lines currently under construction and due to be completed in 2013. 

Also on the agenda is the purchase of 39 rail cars for METRORail among other items.

At the METRO monthly board meeting that is being conducted as you read this post, one of the items on the board agenda for today is finalizing the station names for the North (Red), Southeast (Purple), and East End (Green) lines.   

A METRO Committee sorted through all the suggestions and came up with this final list of names for the stations on the three lines that will be subject to board approval.

North Line: Burnett TC/Casa de Amigos, Quitman/Near Northside, Boundary, Moody Park, Cavalcade,  Lindale Park, Melbourne/North Lindale, Northline TC/HCC

Southeast Line:  EaDo/Dynamo, Discovery Green, Central Station Main, Central Station Capitol, Central Station Rusk, Theater District, Leeland, Elgin, Robertson Stadium/UH/TSU, UH South/University Oaks, MacGregor Park/MLK, Palm Center

East End Line: York/Coffee Plant, Lockwood, Altic/Howard Hughes, Cesar Chavez/67th Street, Magnolia Park TC

There's also an interesting one in which METRO would enter into an agreement with the Menil Foundation in exchange for right-of way needed for the University line, the Menil Foundation would design a rail station for it that would be incorporated and integrated into the design for their redeveloped campus.

The station would also be per the agreement with the Foundation be named the 'Menil Station'

Hmm, will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Who Will Be The 2018 Winter Olympic City?

When they hold the closing ceremonies for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the mayor of that town will hand off the Antwerp Olympic flag to his counterpart hosting the next games in 2018

On July 6 in Durban, South Africa the International Olympic Committee will hold a meeting to answer a question many of us Olympic junkies and the citizens of the three finalist nations want to know.

Who will be the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games?

The three candidate cities in the running to take the big prize in Durban are PyeongChang, South Korea, Munich, Germany and Annecy, France.

PyeongChang is making its third bid and considered the front runner right now for multiple reasons.  The city is located 180 kilometers east of Seoul and narrowly lost its two other Olympic bids.  It lost by three votes to Vancouver for the 2010 Games despite handily winning the first round of voting and four votes to Sochi for the 2014 Games.

So they've been Olympic bridesmaids twice, and with the 2014 Games being hosted by a European nation (Russia), and it once again being the Asian nation in the finalist field versus two European contenders, the IOC may be reluctant to vote against it for a third time in addition to having back to back winter Olympiads on the European continent.

They may wish to not only seek new winter sports territory in granting the games to the South Korean city, but have one in Asia for the first time since Nagano, Japan hosted in 1998.

The bid is also being supported by 2010 Vancouver Games figure skating gold medalist Kim Yu-Na 

Munich has the advantage of having hosting the 1972 Summer Games, and if their bid is successful, it would be the first time in Olympic history that a city has hosted the Winter and Summer Games

Munich also plans to not only use some of those facilities from that summer games, but also the ones from the 1936 Winter Games at Garmisch-Partenkirchen

They've also got their own winter Olympian star power to counter PyeongChang in 1988 Calgary Games figure skating gold medalist Katarina Witt.  She is the chair of the Munich bid committee.

Munich has also been considered by Olympics watchers to be gaining ground on their Asian rivals despite the solid presentation PyeongChang made.

The long shot in this field is Annecy.   Between the late start, being another European contender for the Games, resignation of the bid committee President Edgar Grospiron, and issues about an alleged shortfall in its funding, Annecy's chances aren't looking good despite the announcement of the new president of six new sponsorship deals from various corporations in support of the bid.

Annecy's Olympic star power was provided by French triple gold medal skiing champion from the 1968 Grenoble Games and former IOC member Jean Claude Killy


All three cities made their final presentations in Lausanne, Switzerland a few weeks ago.   You can bet that they will pull out all the stops, including having their nation's leaders there in person to ensure that their nation's bid impresses the 100 people at the July 6 meeting in Durban and emerges victorious.